South Africa chase 'home' victory (10 June 1999)

10 June 1999

South Africa chase 'home' victory

Michael Henderson

Allan Donald returns this morning to the ground where he made his reputation in this country, and where he is regarded as one of the family. As a Warwickshire player since 1987 he knows Edgbaston intimately, and when he goes back to Birmingham after the World Cup his loyalty will be rewarded by a benefit year.

Two other members of the South African party also have connections with the club. Shaun Pollock spent a season here in 1996 and Bob Woolmer, their outgoing coach, enjoyed great success with Warwickshire. Under his direction they won the treble of championship, NatWest Trophy and Sunday League in 1993.

Their minds will be on other things today. South Africa, who meet New Zealand, will think that, if they win, they will almost be through to the World Cup semi-finals. Having carried through two points from the group stage, they earned two more when they squeezed past Pakistan in that tremulous affair at Trent Bridge last Saturday.

That is not to say they will treat New Zealand lightly. These are the players who beat Australia in the first round, and who were denied the chance to add another victory on Monday when the rain washed out their first Super Six match at Headingley, against Zimbabwe.

Hansie Cronje, the South Africa captain, said his team would take nothing for granted until they had qualified for the semi-finals. "The guys are keen to take all four points, and finish top of the Super Sixes," he said. "We would like to do the job here, and get things [qualification] done before Sunday. But New Zealand are a better side than people give them credit for."

Although they have won five of their six matches South Africa have not batted particularly well. Lance Klusener, the combative all-rounder who bats at No 9 - though his position is purely nominal is their leading scorer, with 210 runs, and he has yet to surrender his wicket.

While it is nice to have such a mighty blade to extricate them from some awkward spots, Cronje thinks his top-order batsmen should be contributing more, and more often. But he said the team had "an intensity when it matters".

In Nottingham the South Africans laid to rest the memory of the Test match there last year, when Donald had Michael Atherton caught behind, only for Steve Dunne, the umpire, to keep his finger down, and for England to go on to win.

Victory today would enable them to get over the disappointment of the Test on this ground last summer, when Donald bowled poorly, by his standards. Then, on Sunday, they meet Australia at Headingley in the final Super Sixes match that will resolve all outstanding issues. They have some business to attend to there, as well.

Source :: The Electronic Telegraph